Triathlon by the Sea

8th Annual Triathlon by the Sea, Marblehead, MA

May 11, 2008

Fashion Report
Club tri-shorts and belly-exposing top.
Well worn Adrenaline GTS’s.
LIT visor and club pull-over prior to race.

Breakfast Report
Dunkin’ Donuts bacon, egg, and cheese on multigrain bagel and coffee en route.

Result Summary
250y Pool Swim and Run Out: 6:08 (173/248)
T1, 10.5m Bike, and T2: 34:47 (18.2 avg, 31/248)
3.0 Mile Run: 22:46 (7:36 Pace, 9/248)
Total: 1:03:52 (45/248, 5/17 AG)

In-race Nutrition
Gatorade in T1 and T2.

Evaluation against previously posted goals:

1. Overall - Have fun. It's a C race. No real planning. Just gonna have fun.

Slam dunked!  Big club turnout. Gorgeous sunny day. Enjoyable family outing. All good.

2. Swim - This is the one part of the race I have a real goal for. Last year's time for 250y plus the run out of the building was 6:18. My goal for the 250y swim alone last year was 5:15. This year, I seeded myself at 5:00 and I swam a 4:45 this morning. I better come out sub 6, I think 5:45 is realistic - but I'm worried about traffic.

Was totally calm and relaxed, joking around, until about 45 seconds before my start time when I realized I had better get my goggles on. This is a staggered start pool swim with racers going in every 15 seconds - 5 laps of a 25y pool. My time came and I jumped in and was off. Down and turn and maybe half way back, I'm already touching toes. I see the racer in front of the racer in front of me coming back so I break for the right and make the pass at the 50y turn. Felt one toe touch as I came off the wall but then held a 10y lead for the next 200y, all the time expecting to be caught. Then someplace in the middle, some dolt decided he could pass about three wide while I'm coming the other way. We met arm to arm and there was no injury, but it pissed me off enough to stop and yell at him for a second and no doubt didn't help with my heart rate. I resumed swimming pretty quick and got through it but I was totally out of breath for the last few laps and wasn’t swimming well. I knew I wasn’t doing what I wanted to. So… 10 seconds better than last year but… Disappointing.

3. Bike - New bike course this year so can't compare with last time. Also, the way they had it set up last year, most of your T1 and T2 times ended up in your bike time. The course shouldn't be that hilly - but I haven't ridden it. I'd secretly like my bike computer to read 20+ for average - though I know the race results will show slower.

After a little rest on my bucket that passed for T1, took off down the hill on the long run-out. Love running in my bike shoes.

The traffic on this route was just stupid. The first stoplight I came to was red. There was no direction so I had to slow until I could see there was nothing coming. There was one intersection I hit twice that was total chaos – two lines of cars with cyclists on the right, down the middle, and then me circling them all on the left. Crazy.

I did not feel strong on the bike today. My computer showed 19.4 mph average including the runs out of and into transition – close, but not quite what I wanted. I was not passed on the bike and I passed a number of folks – so that was fun.

4. Run - Dunno. My volume this winter has been MUCH lower than last year and, again, it's a new run course. I think I'll be pleased with anything sub-8.

Pretty pleased here. I stalked a clubmate for the first mile, ran with him for a bit, and then dusted him. Always fun. Pleased with my third mile pace – though it took a while to get up to speed.

 Overall… fun “C” race. We had a great day!  Oh!!  And Gator Girl won a manicure in the raffle!!  Happy Mother's Day!!